Mainly, the issues related to registration of the sea vessels and the rights thereto are governed by the following statutory acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan:

1. The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan as of 17 December 2002 «On Trade Navigation»;

2. The Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan as of 17 January 2003 «On Approval of State Registration Rules of Sea Vessels and Rights Thereto».

1. General provisions

A sea vessel (hereinafter — the «vessel») is subject to state registration in one of the ports of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the State Ship's Register, ship book or bareboat-freight register.

The right of property in the vessel under construction may be registered in the register of vessels under construction on the assumption of the keel laid down or performance of equivalent construction works approved by the expert opinions.

The vessel registered at the Ship's Register of a foreign state may be registered in the State Ship's Register or ship book only after its exclusion from the Ship's Register of the foreign country and provision of a document certifying exclusion from such register.

Prior the vessel's state registration on bareboat-freight terms in the bareboat-freight register a Kazakhstani freighter must obtain the permit of a competent authority to temporary grant of right to sail under the State Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Authorized body on the state registration of vessels and rights thereto is the Committee of the transport control of the Ministry of transport and communications.

Inclusion of the vessel into:

1. The State Ship's Register shall be certified by issue of a certificate granting right to sail under the state flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan and certificate of ownership of a vessel;
2. Ship book shall be certified by issue of a ship ticket granting the right to sail under the State Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan and shall be a proof of property right in the vessel;
3. Bareboat-freight register shall be certified by issue of a certificate on temporary grant of right to sail under the State Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the foreign sea vessel freighted on bareboat-freight terms;
4. Register of the vessels under construction shall be certified by issue of a certificate on the state registration of right to the vessel (vessel under construction).

Registration of the Kazakhstani vessel in the Ship's Register of foreign country shall not be valid unless it is excluded in the established order from the State Ship's Register or ship book of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

2. Procedure of Registration of Sea Vessels and Rights Thereto

The registration shall be performed in accordance with the following procedure:

1) The receipt of the documents required for the state registration of the sea vessels and rights thereto and meeting of the Kazakhstan legislation requirements. Upon receipt an authorised person in the port administration shall enter a relevant record into the book of record of incoming documents. In case of non-conformity of submitted documents with the requirements or their insufficiency, an applicant shall be refused in receipt of documents. Upon request of an applicant the latter shall be given a reasoned written confirmation of refusal of the documents' receipt.

An applicant is given a notice of receipt of documents required for the state registration of their list, also with date notation. Receipt of notice acknowledges receipt of the registration documents.

2) Ascertainment of non-availability of contradictions between the declared rights and already registered rights to this vessel, and also grounds for dismissal or suspension of registration.

3) Entry of records into the State Ship's Register, ship book and bareboat-freight register in case of absence of the above specified contradictions and other grounds for dismissal or suspension of registration.

4) Issue of documents certifying the registration.

Any person, who acquired a vessel on the basis of property right, shall be obliged to register the vessel itself and the right thereto in the State Ship's Register or ship book within thirty days.

Any person using the vessel on the basis of bareboat-freight terms shall be obliged to register it in the bareboat-freight register within thirty days.

State registration of vessels and rights thereto shall be performed by the port administration (port captain) within thirty days as from the date of all required documents submission.

In case if the vessel is not subject to the state registration, a person, who provided the vessel, will be notified at least within seven days as from the documents submission date for the state registration.

The port administration will carry out the state registration of vessels on the basis of one of following documents:

• Certificate granting right to sail under the state flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan issued by the Committee of the transport control in case if ownership of a vessel belongs to resident of Kazakhstan;
• Certificate on temporary grant of right to sail under the State Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the foreign sea vessel freighted on bareboat-freight terms.

After receiving of the Certificate on permanent/temporary grant of right to sail under the State Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan and state registration vessel should be entered to the State vessel record. The rights of the State vessel record are transferred to the Russian Maritime Register. The aim of the Russian Maritime register consists in technical control for vessels sailing under the State Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

3. Dismissal of Registration of a Vessel and Right Thereto

In the following cases state registration of a vessel and right thereto may be rejected:

• if the incompetent person presented an application for the state registration;
• if requirements provided for by the rules of state registration of vessels and rights thereto were not observed;
• if documents submitted for the state registration do not comply with the requirements as provided by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

A vessel owner, who provided the vessel for the state registration, shall be notified in writing of the dismissal specifying its grounds.

4. Acquisition of a Vessel outside Kazakhstan

The vessel acquired outside the Republic of Kazakhstan shall enjoy the right to sail under the State Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan as from the date of issue by the consular service of the Republic of Kazakhstan of a temporary certificate on right to sail under the State Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan (hereinafter — the «Temporary certificate») certifying such right, which shall be valid until the state registration of the vessel and the right thereto in the State Ship's Register or ship book but no more than one year.

The temporary certificate is issued by the consular service of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the basis of application of a holder of right with enclosure of all documents required.